Hydrogen sulfide activates TRPA1 and releases 5-HT from epithelioid cells of the chicken thoracic aorta.

Epithelioid cells in the chicken thoracic aorta are chemoreceptor cells that release 5-HT in response to hypoxia. It is likely that these cells play a role in chemoreception similar to that of glomus cells in the carotid bodies of mammals. Recently, H2S was reported to be a key mediator of carotid glomus cell responses to hypoxia. The aim of the present study was to reveal the mechanism of action of H2S on 5-HT outflow from chemoreceptor cells in the chicken thoracic aorta. The 5-HT outflow induced by NaHS, an H2S donor, and Na2S3, a polysulfide, was measured by using a HPLC equipped with an electrochemical detector. NaHS (0.3-3mM) caused a concentration-dependent increase in 5-HT outflow, which was significantly inhibited by the removal of extracellular Ca(2+). 5-HT outflow induced by NaHS (0.3mM) was also significantly inhibited by voltage-dependent L- and N-type Ca(2+) channel blockers and a selective TRPA1 channel blocker. Cinnamaldehyde, a TRPA1 agonist, mimicked the secretory response to H2S. 5-HT outflow induced by Na2S3 (10μM) was also inhibited by the TRPA1 channel blocker. Furthermore, the expression of TRPA1 was localized to 5-HT-containing chemoreceptor cells in the aortic wall. These findings suggest that the activation of TRPA1 and voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels is involved in H2S-evoked 5-HT release from chemoreceptor cells in the chicken aorta.